Course Name Year Term Period Faculty / Graduate School All Instructors Credits
12525:[2025 Fall]IR18‐AE113 Special Lecture (General Education Course) (RA) § 12526:IR-AS113 Special Lecture(General Education Course) (RA) § 17138:RUIR-2625 Special Lecture (Area Studies Course: East Asia and the Pacific)(RF) 2025 Fall Tue4 College　Of　International　Relations OHTA HIDEAKI 2

Campus

KIC

Class Venue

MEIGAKUKAN　MG003

Language

English

Course Outline and Method

【+R-Jugyo】
Information for “+R-Jugyo” will be posted on the “Course News” on manaba+R by September 20. Be sure to check the “Course News” on manaba+R.

  This course (Economic Development of Japan) provides an insight into the economic development of modern and contemporary Japan, which is important for thinking about the various problems and challenges facing Japan today. This course will focus on the history of Japan's economic development from the early modern period (Meiji era) to the present day in order to understand how Japan developed and became one of the world's leading economic powers. Furthermore, the course will analyse the history of Japan's economic development from the post-modern period, i.e. from the Meiji era to the present (including the Taisho, Showa and Heisei periods) from the perspective of economic development. The main aim of the course is to reflect on the economic history of Japan since the modern era and to learn the importance of the experience of success and failure from an international perspective in order to better understand the current political, economic and social situation in Japan and the world.
　Through this lecture, you will understand how important investment in education and industry was in the modernisation of Japan from the Meiji era, through the Sino-Japanese and Russo-Japanese wars, World War I and World War II, to the rise of Japanese militarism during the global recession of the 1930s, which led to the Pacific War and heavy losses. It will also show how the economy and society of post-war Japan has been transformed by the enormous political and economic pressures from the USA.
　 The lectures will focus primarily on the economy, but will also cover issues of politics, society and foreign relations. Specifically, we will cover the background to Japan's early industrialisation, foreign influences, the interaction between economics and politics, the role of the state and the dynamism of the private sector, and the social and political aspects of industrialisation. The lectures will be accompanied by academic analysis and discussion by experts using a variety of data.

Student Attainment Objectives

The students will be able to:
(1)Learn the basic economic history of Japan in order to understand the various problems associated with the development of globalisation and to further deepen understanding of contemporary issues.
(2) Deepen understanding of the Japanese and international economy and understand the background to current events in the Japanese and global economy and markets.

Recommended Preparatory Course

特に必要はないが、経済学入門などの関連科目を履修していることが望ましい。

Course Schedule

Lecture/Instructor（When there are multiple instructors) Theme
Keyword, References and Supplementary Information
1

Theme: Introduction to Economic Development of Japan +R

Latecomers and the meaning of modernisation
ETrade agreements between Japan and the US and other states
Modernization of institutions and systems of the Tokugawa Shogunate and the Meiji Restoration
Introduction of tracer and explanation of the major issuers of the course.

2

Theme: Modernisation and Industrialisation in the Meiji period (1868-1912)

Industrial Development Government initiatives for Major industries

3

Theme: Technology transfer and major industries

Transfer of Technology Licensing Hired foreign staff

4

Theme: Late Meiji period: budget, finance and macro policy

Industrial Revolution
Banking system Financial system for large to small firms

5

Taisho Era (1912-1926)

Russo-Japanese War (1904)
World War I and Russo-Japanese War (1910s: economic boom)

6

Theme: Late Taisho and Showa financial crisis and the Great Depression (1920s)

Great Depression (1929)
Financial Crisis
Origin of Fascism

7

Theme: Economic Depression / Stagnation in the 1930s and Emergence of Fascism

Recovery from Depression Takahashi’s Keynesian Policy
Fascism & Military expansion

8

Theme: Post-WW2 reconstruction, 1945-49

Land reforms Tax reforms Special financial schemes for reconstruction
Dodge line

9

Complete Recovery and High growth period 1950s-60s

Theme : Economic Development Plans
High Growth Period
Income Doubling Plan

10

Theme: Economic maturity and golden age 1970s-80s: Golden Age

Trade Liberalization Capital Account liberalization ‘Japan as No.1’
B-Tron

11

Theme: Japan and the International Economic Bubble

High Yen after the Plaza Agreement (1985)
Bubble period (late1980s)

12

Theme: Bursting of the bubble in the 1990s

Theme: The introduction of neo-liberalism
Bubble Burst (1991)
beginning of ‘lost Decades’

13

Theme: Neo-liberalism and the lost quarter of a century (2000s, 2010s)

The Vicious Cycle of Financial Liberalisation and Deregulation
Inconvenient Truth about ‘Abenomics’

14

Theme: Japan's Remaining Path －Prescriptions for Sustainable Economic Growth in Japan－

１. A Fundamental Changes in Economic Policy　
２．Tax reforms to promote economic growth
３．Reform of labour market policies
４． Reform of the social security and pension system
５． Re-establishment of the Economic Planning
　　 Agency
６．Political Institutional Reforms

Class Format

In principle, this class will be taught face-to-face. However, there may be cases where online teaching is used, in which case Zoom will be used; see Manaba+R for the Zoom address.

Recommendations for Private Study

It is important to keep abreast of political, economic and social developments in Japan and around the world and to acquire the latest knowledge. On top of that, it is important to deeply explore the reasons and background of various events. Therefore, it is desirable for students to take courses in various social sciences such as economics, political science, sociology, and international relations.

Grade Evaluation Method

Kind Percentage Grading Criteria etc.
Final Examination (Written) 0

Report Examination
(A report to be submitted by the unified deadline)		 0

Exams and/or Reports other than those stated above, and Continuous Assessment　
(Evaluation of Everyday Performance in Class)		 100

Mid-term and Final Reports (essays) are to be submitted

Grade Evaluation Method （Note）

 The total scores of students are evaluated based on the mid-term and final reports/ essays as follows:

- Mid-term : 50%
- Final : 50%

 Although attendance to the class is not obligatory, it would be important to attend the lectures, since the students may have deeper understandings on the topics/ issues that covered by the class. Basically, the evaluation is based on the essays submitted, however, regular attendance to the classe is encouraged for those who would like to have high scores.

Advice to Students on Study and Research Methods

To have high rating, it would be essential to attend the class and make understandings on various issues taken up the class.

Textbooks

Textbooks （Frequency of Use, Note）

No particular text is necessary.

Reference Books

Title Author Publisher ISBN Code Comment
The History of Japanese Economic Development:Origins of Private Dynamism and Policy Competence Kenichi Ohno Routledge Original English text is available at Prof. Ohno's web site.
From Foot Soldier to Finance Minister: Takahashi Korekiyo, Japan’s Keynes Richard J. Smethurst Harvard Univ. Press

Reference Books （Frequency of Use, Note）

 [References] Ohta, Hideaki (2014). Evaluation of Monetary Easing Policy in Japan: Integration between the US and Japanese Markets, Working Paper IR 2014-3, The International Studies Association of Ritsumeikan University. Ohta, Hideaki (2017a). Economic Growth through Distribution of Income in Japan: Road to Stable Growth with Progressive Income Tax System, Ritsumeikan Journal of International Studies, Vol. 30 No.1: 81-111. Ohta, Hideaki (2017b). Why the Monetary Easing under ‘Abenomics’ has been ineffective in recovery of the Japanese Economy? Integration of the Markets between the US and Japan, Ritsumeikan Annual Review of International Studies, Vol.16, 2017. Ohta, Hideaki (2017c)　Economic Growth through Distribution of Income in Japan: Road to Stable Growth with Progressive Income Tax System, Ritsumeikan Journal of International Studies, Vol.30 No.1. Ohta (2020) Effects of Monetary Easing Policy in Japan on the Markets in Hong Kong and China after the Global Financial Crisis, Ritsumeikan Annual Review of International Studies Vol.19 Ohta, Hideaki (2021) Free from Neoliberalism: Prescriptions for Long-term Growth in Japan: No growth without distribution, Ritsumeikan Annual Review of International Studies Vol.20. Please see the column of web pages below.

Web Pages for Reference

[Web]
Many Lecture slides are provided below. However, the slides used in this lecture are different from the slides provided by Prof. Ohno.
https://www.grips.ac.jp/teacher/oono/hp/lec_J.htm

Lecture materials as well as additional data and information will be uploaded at the Manaba+R for this class.

Monistry of Finance, Japan 　　　https://www.mof.go.jp
財務総合研究所　https://www.mof.go.jp/pri/　
Bank of Japan 　https://www.boj.or.jp　 https://www.boj.or.jp/statistics/index.htm/　
OECD　 　 https://data.oecd.org
Statisitics Japan　https://www.stat.go.jp
Development Bank of Japan https://www.dbj.jp/en/ 　https://www.dbj.jp/ricf/
Mitsubishi Research &% Consulting　https://www.murc.jp
NKI Research Institute 　www.nli-research.co.jp/en/?sit

How to Communicate with the Instructor In and Out of Class(Including Instructor Contact Information)

Learning Management System （manaba+R）,Other (Separate instructions will be provided)

Other Comments

Students may have send enquiries / questions by e-mail (hoviolin@fc.ritsumei.ac.jp) in principle.
If students wish to have direct talks wiht me, you may request to have a Zoom meeting.
However, it should be made to have appointment.

Hideaki OHTA
【科目ナンバリング・カリキュラムマップはこちらから/Click here to see the Curriculum-Map and Course-Numbering】
URL:https://secure.ritsumei.ac.jp/students/pathways-future/course/curriculum.html/